Jaka Kendil is a folktale originating from Central Java. It is a narrative full of moral lessons for children from past generations. The folktale teaches us not to judge people by their appearances. The story of Jaka Kendil has evolved into many versions, particularly regarding who his parents were. Generally, Jaka Kendil’s parents are depicted as a poor widow from a village. In a village in Java in the past, there lived an old widow with a child named Jaka Kendil, whose neighbors often mocked him for his short, stout body resembling a pot and an unattractive face. Like the saying “a frog wanting to be a prince,” he asked his mother to propose marriage to the princess of the king.
Jaka Kendil in Kethoprak Performance in Pati
In the kethoprak performance of the Jaka Kendil story in Mojo Sub-Village, Langenharjo Village, Margomulyo Subdistrict, Pati Regency (Saturday, June 1, 2024), Jaka Kendil is portrayed as a discarded prince. It took Jaka Kendil twenty years to rediscover his true identity. In the performance related to the Sedhekah Bumi event, the Head of the Department of Literature at the Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University (FIB UNDIP), Dr. Sukarjo Waluyo, S.S., M.Hum., participated along with the Wahyu Manggolo Kethoprak Group from Jakenan (Pati). The lecturer and researcher of literature and culture from FIB UNDIP played the character of Patih Danupati from the Tanjunganom Kingdom, ruled by Sinuwun Prabu Sindunegara.
The story begins with news of a village girl named Sri Asih, renowned for her beauty. Sri Asih is the daughter of Resi Pramuja from Padepokan Toyaarum. She also has an elder brother named Wasiaking, a young man skilled in martial arts and very fond of his sister.
Two dukes from different regions, Adipati Tejabaskara, the ruler of Parangkencana, and Adipati Tejalelana, the ruler of Karangbanyu, heard about the beautiful girl Sri Asih, described as a woman of stunning beauty. Wasiaking, Sri Asih’s brother, then held a contest: any man who could defeat him in combat would win Sri Asih’s hand in marriage. Both Dukes Tejabaskara and Tejalelana failed to defeat Wasiaking and thus could not marry Sri Asih.
Sri Asih was approached by a young man who turned out to be Prabu Sindunegoro of Tanjunganom. After the contest ended, a handsome man appeared and expressed his desire to participate. This man was Prabu Sindunegoro, who managed to defeat Wasiaking. Sri Asih was then brought to Tanjunganom Palace and given the title Adaningrum. Since Prabu Sindunegoro had no children with his first wife, he elevated Adaningrum to the queen when he discovered her pregnancy. The first wife, however, could not accept this and sought a sage to curse Adaningrum’s unborn child so that it would be born with an ugly face and be unfit to be human. The outcome of the curse was to accuse Adaningrum of infidelity, leading the king to expel her from the palace.
When Adaningrum gave birth, Prabu Sindunegoro, accompanied by Patih Sindupati, was present in the Taman Keputren (royal garden). The king was initially delighted at the prospect of a son to continue his reign. However, he was shocked to see the child’s unattractive face. He accused Adaningrum of infidelity, insulted her humble origins, and cruelly banished her from the palace. Despite Patih Sindupati’s wise counsel, the king was unyielding. Unable to bear the king’s tyranny, Patih Sindupati resigned and left the palace.
Though physically unattractive and peculiar, Jaka Kendil was a good child and cherished by his mother, Sri Asih. One day, Jaka Kendil asked his mother to arrange a marriage with a princess. The king, having three beautiful daughters and wishing for grandchildren, initially discouraged the idea, feeling it was impossible and fearing mockery.
Indeed, the first and second princesses mocked Jaka Kendil for his appearance. However, the third princess accepted his proposal, and they were married. Shortly after the wedding, an astonishing event occurred: Jaka Kendil transformed into a handsome prince. The king demanded an explanation from Jaka Kendil’s mother, revealing his true identity as a Prince of Tanjunganom cursed by evil magic. The curse would break once he turned twenty.
The moral message of the Jaka Kendil folktale remains profound and relevant for the people of Central Java. Despite facing ridicule and scorn for his appearance, Jaka Kendil, through patience and his mother’s unconditional love, achieved extraordinary happiness and lived blissfully with his beloved wife.
The owner of the Wahyu Manggolo Kethoprak Group, Mr. Mogol, expressed his happiness that academics and researchers are still willing to engage with and support traditional arts. In around 2022, Dr. Sukarjo Waluyo, S.S., M.Hum., along with Dr. Sucipto Hadi Purnomo, M.Pd. (S1 Javanese Literature of the FPBS UNNES), Habib Anis Sholeh Ba’asyin (a cultural figure from Pati) and several kethoprak artists from Jogja and Pati held a workshop on the development of Kethoprak Pati at the Wahyu Manggolo Kethoprak Group’s secretariat.
Author: Dr. Sukarjo Waluyo, S.S., M.Hum. (Head of the Department of Literature, FIB UNDIP)
